Leather-folding machine



V J. W. ANTHONY.

LEATHER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, um.

Patented Dec. 30,1919.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. W. ANTHONY.

LEATHER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARJH. 191,1.

Patented Dec. 30,1919.

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LEATHER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 19H- Patented Dec. 30,1919.

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JOSEPH W. ANTHONY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Application filed March 16, 1917. Serial No. 155,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH W. ANTHONY, a citiaen of the United States,residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of lilassachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Leather-Folding Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for folding and creasing leather orsimilar material and is adapted for edge folding to complete the articlemanufactured in the machine described in my copending application, filedMarch 16, 1917, Serial No. 155,344. Certain features of my inventionherein shown but not claimed are shown and claimed. in my co-pendingapplications, Serial No. 79,205, filed Feb. 18, 1916, and Serial No.155,343, filed March 16, 1917.

In the machine described and claimed in the said application the articleto be manufactured included a facing section of material and an inner orreinforcing section. The machine is designed to fold three of the edgesof the facing section onto the back or reinforcing section, to completethe article throughout at least three of its edges.

As in the specific article manufactured, it is necessary to subject thesame to a further manufacturing detail before folding the fourth, orfinal edge, a separate machine is necessary "for such final edgefolding.

The machine of the present invention is therefore constructed forfolding the final or fourth edge of the article referred to, and in itsspecific construction involves a table on which the article, partly completed as described is clamped. A forming plate is carried by the clampmember, so that, in operative position, the said plate is projectedbeyond the edge of the clamp member to provide a section over which themachine in folding, through the movement of a wiper, turns said materialonto the forming plate and, following the automaticwithdrawal of theforming plate from the fold, presses the fold down into final position.v

The details above noted are generally and more or less specificallycharacteristic of the several edge folding machines for whichapplications for patent are now pending in my name, and the presentmachine is designed particularly to provide a simple ty e of single edgefolding machine, wherein t e operations necessary to the edge folding,

are automatically carried out and controlled through a single slidemember.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvedmachine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.

F i a section on line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 1s a sectional detail illustrating the bed lowering means. i

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the operating slide.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same.

Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectionaldetails illustrating thesuccessive steps to which the article is subjected in the machine.

. Fig. 13 is a rear face view of the article, the edge operated on bythe present ma chine being shown in normal condition.

Fig. 1% is similar view of the article, the edge being folded.

The machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises asuitable base 1, above which, preferably at one end of the base mounteda bed 2. The bed is arranged for movement to and from the base, beingmounted upon guide rods 3, secured in the base, which guide rods areadapted to be engaged by an operating slide t to move the bed toward andfrom the base at proper intervals.

The slide is mounted for reciprocating or oscillating movementlongitudinally of the bed, being preferably arranged in a groove orchannel 5 formed in the under side of the bed. and held against otherthan such movement in the bed by U-shaped sections 6 which underlie theslide and are removably secured to the bed. Supported on the base beyondthe bed is a table 7, on which the material or article to be operatedupon is to be clamped. The table is slidably sup ported for movement toand from the base by guide rods 8 depending from the table and extendedthrough guide brackets 9 rising from the base, springs 10 encircling therods, to maintain the upper surface of the table in alinement with theupper surface of the bed when the posts are in normal position.Adjustable screws 11 depending from the under side of the table serve tohunt the downward movement of the table, rubber cushions 9 beingprovided on the brackets 9 for their engagement, collars securing therods 8 below the barring surface of the brackets 9, to limit the upwardmovement of the table.

A clamp frame 13 is arranged above the bed and slidably mounted formovement to and from the bed throughrods 14L extending through the bedand into the base. The frame 13 is of open rectangular structure, in thefront and rear frame bars of which there is slidably mounted a resettingrod 15. The rod extends transversely of the frame, that islongitudinally of the base, and on the forward end beyond the frame therod supports the clamp carrier 16. This carrier is in the form of anelongated bar having a central upstanding ear 17 formed with an openingto receive the resetting rod, a set screw 18 fixing the carrier on therod. The clamp frame is adapted for movement to and from the table andthe forward bar of such frame has secured to the lower portion thereof aclamp plate 19. The clamp plate is supported at its ends from the framebar to provide a space between said clamp plate and bar for the greaterportion ofthe length of the plate, and on said plate, in the space thusprovided, is arranged. a forming plate 20 secured to the carrier 16. Theforming plate is of such size with respect to the clamp plate that atthe inward limit of movement of the carrier with respect to the clampframe, that is with the carrier in contact with the adjacent bar of theclamp frame, the operative edge of the forming plate wilL be projectedbeyond the free edge of the clamp plate. At the limit of oppositemovement of the carrier the forming plate is withdrawn so that itsoperative edge is approximately in line with the adjacent edge of theclamp plate. The resetting bar 15 is normally held so as to maintain theforming plate in projected or operative position, by a spring 1 1encircling the resetting bar and bearing between a bar of the clampframe and a shoulder formed by an enlarged head 22 on the end of theresetting bar. A pin -23 carrying a cam roll depends from the head 22 ofthe resetting bar into a position to be operated upon by the slide at.

A wiper2 t is slidably mounted in an undercut recess arrangedlongitudinally of the bed, thus preventing other than a sliding movementof the wiper. The upper surface of the wiper is in a plane with theupper surface of the bed, and the forward edge of the wiper is normallyin alinement with that edge of the bed next to the table. The functionof the wiper is to move laterally with respect to the table so as toform the edge of the material by folding the projecting portion thereofover the forming plate, and the wiper is properly operated and timedthrough cooperation with the slide bar at through a pin 25, having a camroll, depending from the wiper for cooperation with slide bar.

The slide bar is reciprocated transverse the bed by a lever 26 pivotallymounted upon. the base at 27 with its forward end formed with anelongated slot to receive a pin supported roll 28 depending from theslide bar, the engagement permitting a free vertical. and longitudinal-movement of the pin in the lever to prevent binding. The opposite endof the lever is moved to reciprocate the slide bar through a cam groove29 formed in a sleeve section 30 fixed on a driven shaft 31, here shownas actuated through gearing 32, from a belt driven drive shaft 33. Thedrive shaft has normally controlled clutch connection with a powermeans, as a belt pulley 33, to compel a complete reciprocation of theslide bar at each operation of the clutch mechanism.

The slide bar is formed for the proper timed operation of the variousparts with what may be termed cam grooves. The initial operation of themachine, after placing the article, upon the table '7 with its unfoldededge projecting slightly beyond the rear edge of the table, is thedownward movement of the carrier frame to cause the clamp plate 19 toclamp the article upon the table. To secure this result the inner orforward edge surface of the slide formed with a cam slot 34 having aninitial or operating section 35 inclined downward, so that a pin 36projecting from a cross bar 37 secured on the rods 14 of the clamp framewill by contact with the walls of said section of the cam slot be givena downward movement to draw the clamp plate into contact with thearticle upon the table. The cam groove has a second or holding section36 substantially parallel with the plane of movement of the slide sothat for the length of time required for the travel of the pin throughthis sectionof the. cam slot, that is while the edge is being formedabout the forming plate by the wiper, the cam plate is held in clampingcooperation with the table. Beyond the holding section the cam groove 3%has an idle section 37 in which the groove is without effect upon theclamp frame, such idle section being preferably widened vertically, tosubstantially free the clamp frame fromfurther control for thesucceeding folding action of the machine. 7

The upper surface of the slide 4: is formed with a cam slot 38 for thewiper and in practically longitudinal alinement therewith is the camslot 39 for the resetting bar. As the wiper does not go into actionuntil the clamp frame has reached a position to clamp the article uponthe table, and to depress said table so that the upper surface thereofis substantially 011 a plane below the lower surface of the wiper, it isapparent that the cam slot 38, which moves the wiper operating pin musthave an idle section to permit movement of the pin therein, as the slideis moved, without affecting the Wiper. The cam slot 38 has anintermediate or operating section 41 inclining forwardly so that thewiper in the travel of the pin 25 through this section of the slot iscaused to advance over the edge of the table and so wipe or fold theprojecting edge of the material over the forming plate as in Fig. 10.The cam slot 38 has a final or holding section 42 which extends in aplane sub stantially parallel with the plane of movement of the slide,which through the pin 25 holds the wiper in its advanced or operativeposition. The resetting bar is operated through the slot 39, and as thisslot resets the pin 23, and functions to withdraw the forming plate fromthe fold following the initial folding operation of the wiper it isapparent that the cam slot 39 has an initial idle section 43, and anintermediate operating section 44, arranged in the form of an inclinedwall portion to engage the pin, move the same in a direction against thepressure of the spring 21 to move the carrier 16 from the clamp frame tothereby withdraw the forming plate. As the forming plate must be heldWithdrawn during the succeeding fixing of the fold the final section ofthe cam slot 39 is a holding section 45 in which the pin is so held asto maintain the folding plate withdrawn. The idle section of the camslot 39 is widened to permit free movement of the pin 23 in the returnof the slide to normal position and avoid any action on said pin by thecam slot. Furthermore, the entrant end of the idle portion 43 of theslot preferably has a downwardly inclined end wall 46 so that provisionis made for the descending pin 23, making it unnecessary to provide afull length slot at its point. Following the folding action of the wiperand the withdrawal of the forming plate, the fold rests between thewiper and table, and to fix the folded edge to the underlying materialsurface, assuming the folded edge to have been previously cemented orotherwise coated with adhesive, it is necessary to add to the normalpressure between the wiper and table. This result is gained bycompelling a downward movement of the bed to similarly operate thewiper. This movement of the bed is had through cam slots 47 in the slide4, to receive rollers 48 mounted on the ends of rods arranged transverseof the upper reduced ends of the guide rods 3 on which the bed isslidably mounted. The cam slots 47 have an initial idle section 49 sothat in the movement of the slide to efiect the folding operationspreviously described the bed will not be operated. The walls 47,however, have an withdrawn;

operative section 50 so that at a proper time in the movement of theslide the bed will be depressed through cooperation with the rollers 48with said operative portion of the cam slots. This depressed movement ofthe bed forces downwardly the table 7, With the article, having aproperly folded edge thereof, held between the wiper and table. Themovement of the bed is such that it is continued slightly beyond thepoint at which similar movement of the table is stopped by engagement ofthe screws 11 with the cushions 9. This insures an independent andsuflicient pressure of the wiper upon folded edge of the material as toinsure a fixing of the folded portion in place. The table may be carriedon sprlngs sufficiently strong to avoid necessity of stopping movementof the table through the screws 11, and the fold receiving edge of thetable is or may be provided with a felt strip to aid in fixing the foldin place without a rigid surface resistance.

After the forming plate has been with-- drawn from the folded edge ofthe material it is important that it be prevented from running toprojected or operative position until the parts have been returned tosue stantially normal or initial position. There is, therefore, provideda lock for holding the carrier and hence the forming plate The lock isin the form of a locking bar 60, slidably mounted in the clamp plateframe and havingan inner operative terminal 61 to engage an opening 62in the head 22 of the resetting bar, this ongagen'ient being had out ofthe influence of a spring 63' encircling the locking bar and when theresettingbar has beenoperated by the cam action described to withdrawthe forming plate. The slide bar 4 is provided with a laterallyextending pin 64 in the path of movement of which extends a dependingend 65 of the locking rod. As the slide is returned to normal positionthe pin 64 engages and operates the locking bar to release the resettingbar, when the spring of the latter operates the carrier to project theforming plate to operative position.

As a further ornamentation of the article it is desired that the faceportion thereof be creased alongthe line of fold thus completing, inconjunction with the machine of the copending application, the edgecrease of the article. An ordinary iron 51 is mounted for this purposeupon the base, having its upper creasing edge 52 aranged to be engagedby the material immediately beyond the edge of the table and the wiper,the engagement takingplace just prior to the table reaching its finallimit of movement. The increased pressure of the wiper will thus creasethe surface of the material engaged by the iron. As noted in theprevious applications for similar machines the iron is of course to beheated, a heating means being indicated generally herein at 53.

The successive steps in the formation of the article, described abovethrough the operation of the mechanism are illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12inclusive. The article to be formed is shown in Figs. 13 and 14, Fig.1-3 illustrating the article as delivered to the machine with what maybe termed the rear edge open, while Fig. 1a illustrates the same articleas completed by the machine, with i said edge folded.

I claim:

1. A folding machine comprising material clamping means, a forming plateassociated with said means, a wiper to cooperate with the forming plateto fold an edge of the material thereover, and a slide bar movable tosuccessively operate the clamping means, wiper and forming plate.

A folding machine comprising a base, a wiper, a bed mounted for movementtoward and from the base, a table mounted for movement on the base, a.clamping plate to cooperate with the table to form a material clampingmeans, a forming plate associated with the clamping plate and movablewith respect thereto, and a slide movable in the bed and operating tosuccessively actuate the clamping plate, the wiper and the formingplate.

A folding machine comprising a base, a wiper, a bed mounted for movementto ward and from the base, a table mounted for movement on the base, aclamping plate to cooperate with the table to form a material clampingmeans, a forming plate associated with the clamping plate and mova alewith respect thereto, and aslide movable in the bed and operating tosuccessively actuate the clan'iping plate, the wiper and the formingplate, and finally to depress the bed.

a. A folding machine comprising a base, a wiper, a bed mounted formovement toward and from the base, a table mounted for movement on thebase, a clamping plate to cooperate with the table to form a materialclamping means, a forming plate associated with the clamping plate andmovable with respect thereto, a slide movable in the bed and operatingto successively actuate the clamping plate, the wiper and the formingplate, means to lock the forming plate in the position resulting fromthe operation of the slide in one direction, and means carried by theslide to release the locking means in movement of the slide in theopposite direction.

A folding machine comprising a base,

a bed movable thereon, material clamping ing means, the forming plate,wiper and bed,

and a creasing iron cooperating with the material following theoperation of the bed.

7. ,A folding machine comprising a base, a bed movable thereon, materialclamping means arranged independent of the bed, a forming plate carriedby the clamping means, a wiper arranged on the bed, a slide movablysupported in the bed formed with cam-slots to engage, to successivelyoperate in timed relation the clamping means, the forming plate, wiperand bed, and a creasing iron cooperating with the material following theoperation of the bed.

'8. A folding machine including material clamping means, fold definingmeans, folding means, a slide bar operable to operate said means, andlocking means for said fold defining means.

A folding machine including material clamping means, fold definingmeans, fold-,

ing means and a reciprocating elementassociated with said means operableto control the operation of said means.

10. A folding machine including material clamping means, fold definingmeans, material folding means, and a reciprocating element having camsurfaces engaging said means for the operation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence.

of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH W. ANTHONY.

lVitnesses B. J. N oYns,

H. B. DAVIS.

